Walters then asked again if Lambert -- who has never publicly said he's gay -- "was always openly out." "I think he was," DioGuardi replies. "I mean, from what I've seen ... I do. I never thought he wasn't."

Asked by Barbara Walters whether Lambert's perceived sexuality may have influenced Idol voters, DioGuardi says, "Well, first of all, I hope not ... because we should be judging on talent and viability in the music industry and they both [Lambert and winner Kris Allen] had that."

Lambert has so far skirted questions about his sexuality (although he is rumored to announce he's gay in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone). "I know who I am," he recently told Entertainment Weekly. "I'm an honest guy, and I'm just going to keep on singing," added the 27-year-old San Diego native, who has appeared on websites dressed in drag.